(Insert Andrew Luck Pun Here)

It seemed inevitable that the Colts would be staring down an opportunity to draft Andrew Luck in April's NFL draft. Did you really think the Browns, when given a chance to really be rewarded for being bad -something they've been great at for well, ever- would really be the best bad team when it mattered most? Of course not. The football gods wouldn't allow it.

So now I'll take a totally 100% original angle and discuss what the Colts should do with that No. 1 pick. Peyton Manning is 35 with four years remaining on a 5-year, $90 million contract. He gets around $23 million the next two seasons and around $10 a year the final two seasons.

The contract, which was signed last summer, made him the richest player in the game and was one of the biggest contracts of all time. Not an awesome move by the Colts considering his age, but understandable considering he's one of the five best quarterbacks of all time. It's not a contract you give to a 35-year old free agent but perfectly fine considering what Manning has done in Indianapolis since 1998.

But if what they say is true -and it is- that this is a business, it's time to tell Manning just that and send him on his way. Manning isn't coming off a leg or arm injury. He had cervical spinal surgery, and that sounds painful. He can probably get back to pain-free activities by next fall and be back to his normal self -or close to it- for the next couple of years. But can you say he's not one awkward hit or facemask away from being shelved for good? Of course not, and I don't think anyone can say that.

So you have a 35 year old quarterback who's already played 13 seasons and you're paying him the most money of any player in the history of the sport. For reference, here's how many years a few fellow Hall of Fame quarterbacks played:

Joe Montana: 13 years with the 49'ers, 2 with Kansas City
Steve Young: 13 years with the 49'ers, 2 with Tampa Bay
Troy Aikman: 12 years with the Cowboys
Jim Kelly: 11 years with the Bills

The odds say Manning has a few years left at best. Throw in the neck injury and it's any one's guess, and with $67 million still owed to him, keeping him for the remainder of his contract looks like a terrible business decision at this point.You can't cut a Hall of Famer like Manning 1 year into a 5-year deal and act like nothing happened, but his injury -as well as having the chance to draft the best quarterback prospect in ages- gives the Colts plenty of reasons to release Manning and not look bush league. Players hold out and teams cut them at any point, it's the way of the NFL world.

And while Manning is one of the best ever, it's fair to say he's won as many Super Bowls as Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer. His little brother Eli has as many Super Bowl rings as he does. Not to say any of the guys are anywhere near Peyton's ability, but his talents aren't bringing the Colts Super Bowl after Super Bowl, and it's hard to imagine a 36 or 37 year old Manning hoisting another Lombardi Trophy before retiring -on his own will or not.

So if he's not going to win another Super Bowl, what exactly are the Colts gaining with 3-4 more years of Manning at $18 million a season?

Andrew Luck won't be as good as Peyton Manning. He won't go to 11 Pro Bowls and he probably won't be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

But 10 years of Luck looks a lot better (and cheaper) than 3 or 4 years of a late-30's Manning.